Donate Blood – Save a Life!
Donate Blood – Save a Life!
by Sheryl Roush
I was called this morning by the San Diego Blood Bank needing my (rare) “A-” (A Negative) blood type… so I went in immediately to donate.
As is the case more now than ever before – the blood banks are in short supply of ALL types of blood.
After all these years, they finally explain the special “lime green tag” on my blood packs.
I also have rare antibodies — which makes my blood high in-demand at hospitals.
May you never need to receive blood … but may you be able to donate your blood to others who need it!
FIRST TIME BLOOD DONORS:
Contact your local Blood Bank – or the American Red Cross – to donate. Upon eligibility, you can donate every eight weeks.
(Click here for savvy tips.)
BLOOD TYPES:
There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens – A and B – on the surface of red blood cells:
- Group A – has only the A antigen on red cells (and B antibody in the plasma)
- Group B – has only the B antigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma)
- Group AB – has both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibody in the plasma)
- Group O – has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibody are in the plasma)